Mudavadi:Kenya to Focus on Youth Inclusion
The commitment was made by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Diaspora and Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia mudavadi .Photo by Musalia Mudavadi.
By Robert Mutasi
Kenya is committed to reforming its foreign policy in the best way possible to express the aspirations of its people, especially the youth.
The commitment was made by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Diaspora and Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi while meeting with retired ambassadors.
The move signals a shift toward an inclusive and people-centered approach to diplomacy.
Mudavadi reiterated that Kenya’s foreign policy should aptly reflect the thoughts and aspirations of its people, especially the youth, who are a greater proportion of the country’s population.
“We are committed to instituting a people-centered Foreign Policy that reflects the aspirations of our country,” said Mudavadi. “This process is spearheaded by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, which proudly is leading this process.
He addressed the retired envoys, where he acknowledged the challenges facing Kenya’s youths to engage with the country’s diplomatic service effectively.
He decried the disconnect that existed between the foreign service and the younger generation, who represent about 70 percent of the population.
This, he said, had adversely impacted the ability of the younger people to appreciate and take part in matters touching on diplomacy and foreign relations.
“Our Foreign Policy will embrace diverse perspectives, especially the voices of our youth, as we seek to effectively respond to the challenges that have faced them of late,” said Mudavadi.
He called on the retired ambassadors to ensure a gap was created that would help the younger ones understand diplomatic operations of the country.
“Collaboration between serving and retired diplomats shall be an indispensable factor in our journey forward,” he said.
The remarks by the Prime Cabinet Secretary fit into an expanded effort by the Kenyan government to modernize its approach to international relations and ensure that it is relevant to all sectors of society.
It is banking on youths’ participation in diplomatic affairs to inspire new sets of leaders who are informed, active, and in a position to promote Kenya’s interests on the international stage.
This, therefore, means that the engagement with the retired ambassadors forms part of a wider strategy to tap into their expertise and experience, complementing the efforts of current serving diplomats.
As Mudavadi noted, such a collaborative approach is expected to yield major benefits, as it sails through the complex global good/book and works toward advancing its economic, political, and cultural interests abroad.
It is considered an important step in the direction of reforms that are still ongoing in Kenya’s Diplomatic Service-the service that needs to serve not just the interests of the nation, but also the different voices within the nation.
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